Explore the exciting story "God Sees the Truth but Waits" in your Class 11 English curriculum using our helpful exercise guide. Discover important themes like justice, faith, and forgiveness as you read the summary of this interesting tale. Our guide provides complete answers to help you understand the story better. Dive into this timeless narrative and learn about the incredible ability of forgiveness. Improve your English skills with our valuable resource.

Class 11 God Sees the Truth but Waits Exercise

Summary

In a town called Vladimir, there was a man named Aksionov who was a successful merchant. One day, he went on a trip to sell his goods, despite his wife having a bad dream about him returning with grey hair. On his journey, he stayed at an inn and the next morning, soldiers questioned him about a murder that had happened. They found a knife with blood on it in his belongings and arrested him.

Aksionov's wife visited him in jail, but even she suspected him of the crime. He put his faith in God and accepted his punishment. He was sent to work in the Siberian mines, where he aged and became a religious man. Years later, a fellow prisoner named Makar arrived and Aksionov suspected him of framing him.

Aksionov discovered that Makar was planning an escape and threatened to kill him if he revealed the secret. Aksionov refused to say anything when the authorities found the tunnel, even though it meant he might be punished. One night, Makar confessed to the crimes and begged for forgiveness. Aksionov forgave him and felt a sense of peace.
Before the officials could release Aksionov, he had already passed away.

Understanding the text

Answer these questions.

a. What bad habits did Aksionov have before his marriage?
➜ Aksionov had bad habits of drinking alcohol and getting into fights before his marriage. He used to drink excessively and behave recklessly.
b. What can be the meaning of his wife’s dream?
➜ The meaning of his wife's dream can be seen as a sign of something bad happening. In her dream, she saw Aksionov returning to their town with grey hair, which made her afraid and believe it was a bad omen.
c. Why did Aksionov think of killing himself?
➜ Aksionov thought of killing himself because he couldn't bear the memories of the harsh situations he had endured throughout his life, even though he was innocent. The torture, imprisonment, and premature old age made him feel miserable and hopeless.
d. Why did Makar disclose that he had killed the merchant?
➜ Makar disclosed that he had killed the merchant because he felt ashamed and pitied Aksionov. Aksionov had saved Makar from punishment, despite being a victim of Makar's crime. This act of kindness made Makar feel guilty and confess his crime.
e. Why doesn’t Aksionov wish to return to his family at the end of the story?
➜Aksionov doesn't wish to return to his family at the end of the story because he is old and feeble. After spending his entire life in prison for a crime he didn't commit, he feels that he is better off dying in prison than burdening his family with his presence.

Reference to the context

a. “Well, old man,” repeated the Governor, “tell me the truth: who has been digging under the wall?”
i. Who is that old man?
➜ The old man referred to in the context is Aksionov, who spent twenty-six years in prison.
ii. Which truth is the speaker asking about?
➜ The truth of digging an escape hole.
iii. Which wall does the speaker mean?
➜ The speaker means the prison’s wall.
b. Describe Aksionov’s character.
➜ Aksionov is described as a young, wealthy merchant with a fair-curly hair. He used to enjoy singing and having fun. He had bad habits before his marriage but later became a changed and good man. He possessed virtuous qualities such as faith, forgiveness, freedom, and acceptance. Despite being falsely accused of murder and enduring suffering in prison, he showed mental strength and religious devotion.
c. What is the theme of the story?
➜ The main themes of the story include guilt, forgiveness, faith, conflict, freedom, and acceptance. The story highlights forgiveness as a significant theme, depicting Aksionov's ability to forgive Makar despite spending twenty-six years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. The story emphasizes forgiveness as the best form of revenge..
d. Which symbols are used in the story and what do they indicate?
➜ Symbols used in the story include the house and shops, representing earthly possessions that don't provide support in times of need; Aksionov's wife's nightmare of grey hair, symbolizing his terrible fate; the prison, symbolizing Aksionov's suffering and spiritual transformation; and the book "The Lives of the Saints," representing Aksionov's religious transformation and devotion.

Reference beyond the text

a. What role does religion play in Aksionov’s life? How does he undergo a spiritual transformation in the story?
➜ Religion plays a crucial role in Aksionov's life. He spends his entire life in prison, hoping for God's judgment. He undergoes a spiritual transformation by becoming deeply devoted to religion. He works hard, learns new skills, and even buys a religious book. Aksionov devotes himself to religious practices and gains knowledge about life, fate, spirituality, and forgiveness. His devotion to God and his experiences in prison shape his character and lead him to forgive others, finding peace in the end.
b. What does the story tell us about the existence of unfair system of justice?
➜ The story highlights the existence of an unfair justice system through the protagonist's unjust imprisonment. Aksionov, an innocent man, is wrongly accused, convicted, and punished for 26 years without any fault of his own. The story shows the flaws in the system, as an innocent person loses everything and suffers greatly due to incorrect evidence and judgment.

You can visit summary and exercise answers of all the literature portion of Class 10 English. Short stories like The Selfish Giant and The Oval Portrait are already posted in my blog. Not only this other short stories in Class 10 English literature like The Wish, Civil Peace, Two Littles Soldiers, and lastly An Astrologer's Day are also posted. You can visit and improve your English literature through our comprehensive English Guide.